Municipal Association of South Carolina

The Government Finance Officers Association launched Fiscal First Aid, a Web resource containing tools and techniques to help local governments make it through financial challenges. This Web resource (www.gfoa.org/fiscalfirstaid) presents fiscal first aid techniques in four categories. Primary treatments are those recommended as the first line of defense and should be considered as a first option. In many cases, the go-to treatments not only provide immediate help but also improve the long-term prognosis. Treatments to use with caution may be called for if the go-to techniques are not sufficient. However, the side effects of these treatments could potentially worsen financial conditions if used improperly. Treatments to use with extreme caution might help the near term financial situation, but could ultimately work against financial sustainability.